by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If late December games can predict a team's playoff future, the Kansas City Chiefs might be in big trouble. And their players know it.

The Chiefs stumbled badly in a 23-7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

"We got our butts kicked," running back Jamaal Charles said.

Since starting 9-0, the Chiefs have lost four games, two to playoff-bound Denver, one to Indianapolis, and one to the San Diego Chargers, their Week 17 opponent.

"You have to look in the mirror, and we have to decide what kind of team we want to be moving forward. OK, you dominate Oakland, yeah you dominate the Redskins. But what are we going to do when we face other powerhouses?" Chiefs cornerback Dunta Robinson said.

With the Chiefs' loss and the Broncos win in Houston, Kansas City is set as the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, and will play a wild-card game on the road against the AFC's No. 4 seed.

That quite possibly could be the Colts. Kansas City's only score, on a 31-yard run by Charles, came four minutes into the game. From there, the Chiefs committed four turnovers, including three by quarterback Alex Smith. Smith, who had thrown only six interceptions before Sunday, threw two against the Colts, including one in the end zone on a badly underthrown pass to Anthony Fasano.

"The turnovers, they make it just about impossible to win," Smith said.

As Chiefs players prepared to leave Arrowhead Stadium, many seemed stunned by how poorly they played. They dismissed the idea that, after clinching a playoff spot last week, they suffered a letdown against the Colts. But they failed to explain how the Colts claimed such a lopsided win.

Several players, including Smith, acknowledged that the team felt ready to cruise after a strong start. The Chiefs defense held the Colts without a first down on their first two possessions. Meanwhile, Charles reeled off his ninth touchdown in four games.

With that score, Smith said it felt like the Chiefs' offense was going to continue its recent torrid pace (they had scored 129 points over the previous three games).

"I don't know if we thought they were going to lay down or what, but we certainly weren't able to respond like they were," Smith said.

For much of the remaining 55 minutes, the Colts appeared to be the playoff-ready team. Indianapolis, which had already clinched the AFC South, remains in the No. 4 seed, but could move up if the Bengals (vs. Baltimore) and Patriots (vs. Buffalo) were to lose in Week 17. Indianapolis will play Jacksonville in the regular-season finale.

"I am aware of that. I don't know how it would work out," quarterback Andrew Luck said. "We just go out and try to win football games. I don't think we are going to get too caught up in scenarios or 'What if?'"

If the Colts can play like they did Sunday in the playoffs, they should be serious title contenders.

The Colts enjoyed one their most drama-free games of the season, as Luck was efficient but not spectacular (241 yards and one touchdown), while running backs Donald Brown and Trent Richardson combined for 122 rushing yards. Brown scored both of the Colts' touchdowns, first on a 33-yard check-down pass from Luck, and later on a 51-yard run.

The rest was backed by a defense that made the Chiefs resemble the lackluster offense from early in the season. Charles had his second 100-yard rushing game in three weeks, but was not a factor in the passing game like he was last week, when he had four touchdown catches against the Raiders. That was by design, Indianapolis safety Antoine Bethea said.

"We knew what the big deal was. It was 'Where's Waldo' all week for us," Bethea said. "If we could take him out of the game, it would be tough for their offense to get going."